Spring group



April 16, 1946. D. M. LIGHTr 2,398,750

SPRING GROUP Filed April 24, 1942 V's sheets-sheet 1 April 16, 1946. D. M. LIGHT SPRING GROUP `Filed April 24, 1942 L3 Sheets-Sheet April 16,l 1946. D. M. LIGHT 2,398,750

' SPRING GROUP Filed April 24, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ai@ y Patented Apr. 16, 1946 SPRING GROUP David M. Light, Chicago, Ill., asslgnor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of ,K New Jersey Application April 24, 1942, Serial N0. 440,304

21 Claims.

My invention relates to a spring group for a railway car truck and more particularly to such a group incorporating a ride control unit or snubber, as such a device is sometimes designated.

The general object of my invention is to devise a spring group incorporating a friction device of such form as to facilitate its use in conjunction with springs in railway car trucks. It will be apparent, however, that the friction device disclosed may be utilized wherever it is desirable to interpose a spring group between supported and supporting members.

A specific object of my invention is to devise a ride control unit*l in which top and bottom followers are secured to top and bottom spring plates of a bolster supporting coil spring group, each of said followers comprising V-shaped friction surfaces at opposite ends thereof, the surfaces on said bottom follower tapering toward the respective surfaces on said top follower, said unit also comprising spaced friction shoes each in engagement with one surface on each follower and each affording a support for a spring plate,

said plate affording bearing means for an aux-A iliary spring.

A further object of my invention is to devise a ride control unit such as above described in which the top follower is in the form of an outer housing presenting vertical internal friction surfaces at opposite ends thereof, and the bottom follower is in the form of an inner housing presenting external friction surfaces at opposite ends thereof, each of said last-mentioned surfaces tapering downwardly and outwardly toward the adjacent surface on the outer housing, said innen housing comprising a space beneath each tapering surface thereon, said space being formed and arranged for the reception of the lower end of the associated friction shoe.

In each of the modifications shown the inner housing receives a vertical coil spring seated at the bottom thereof upon a spring plate supported from the lower ends of the friction shoes. In one modification said spring is seated at its upper end against the inner housing, and in the other modification said spring extends lupwardly through an opening in said inner housing and is seated at the top thereof against said outer housing.

My invention comprehends an inner housing of novel form and comprising top and bottom and spaced side walls, and a friction wall extending between the side walls at each end of the housing and being spaced from the bottom wall to permit the entrance therebeneath of an associated friction shoe, in one modification the top wall of said housing being provided with an opening and the side walls being provided with bulged or arcuate portions at opposite sides of said opening to accommodate an associated vertical coil spring extending into said housing for engagement with the lower ends of the friction shoes.

A further object of my invention is to design a novel friction shoe comprising a vertical V- shaped surface on one side thereof and a vshaped surface on the opposite side thereof tapering downwardly and inwardly in the direction of said vertical surface, -said shoe being provided with a spring plate supporting lug disposed beneath said tapering surface.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a spring group embodying my invention, only one half of the group being shown inasmuch as itis similar at opposite ends thereof.

Figure 2 is a front View of the structure shown in Figure 1, the left half thereon being a sectional view in the transverse vertical plane bisecting the group, and the right half thereof being a view in elevation.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the longitudinal vertical plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1. g

Figures 4, 5, and 5A show my novel form of bottom follower or inner housing. Figure 4 being a top plan view thereof, Figure 5 a side elevation, and Figure 5A a sectional view in the plane indicated by the line 5A-5A of Figure 5.

Figures 6 and 7 show the outer housing or top follower utilized in my arrangement, Figure 6 being a plan view thereof, and Figure 7 a side elevation.

Figures 8, 8A, and 9 show my novel form of friction shoe, lFigure 8 being a side elevation thereof, Figure 8A a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 8A--8A of Figure 8, and Figure 9 being a bottom plan view.

Figure 10 is a front view of a modied form., of my invention and is comparable to the view shown in Figure 2.

In each of the figures shown certain details may be omitted where they are more clearly shown in other views.

Describing my invention in detail and referring first to the modification shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, the spring group comprises top and bottom spring plates 2 and 4 each of said plates comprising protuberances 6, 6 affording positioning means for the supported and supporting truck frame members. Each of the spring plates 2 and 4 is flanged as at 8, said flanges being discontinuous as at |0, (Figure 1) in order to lighten the plates and to permit escape of extraneous material from the bottom plate. It will be apparent that the flanges 8, 8 afford convenient confining means for the coil springs |2, |2 interposed between said plates and arranged in pairs at the front and rear of the group. Between the front and rear pairs of coll springs I2, 2 is positioned my novel friction device generally designated I4, saidv device comprising a top follower or outer housing I6, abottom follower or inner housing |8, and a pair of spaced identical friction shoes 20, 20.

The top follower I6 is of box-like form and comprises a top wall 22, side walls 24, 24 bulged as at 26, 26 (Figure 6) in order to conveniently accommodate an associated auxiliary spring as hereinafter more fully described. The top wall 22 is extended as at 30, 30 at opposite sides thereof and is perforated as at 32, 32 for the accommodation of rivets 84, 34 securing said top follower or outer housing to the top spring plate. The top follower or outer housing also comprises end walls 36, 36 with openings 88, 36 therethrough and serving a purpose hereinafter more fully described, said end walls 38, 86 presenting internal V-shaped friction surfaces 40, 40.

The bottom follower or inner housing is shown in detail in Figures 4 to 5A inclusive and comprises a bottom wall 42 extended at 44, 44 at opposite sides thereof and perforated as at 46. 46 for the reception of rivets 48, 48 securing said bottom follower to the bottom spring plate 4. The bottom follower also comprises a top Wall 50 with a round opening 52 therethrough for the reception of a vertical auxiliary spring, already referred to and hereinafter more fully described, and the bottom follower or inner housing also comprises the side walls 64, 54 bulged as at 56, 56 for the accommodation of said lauxiliary spring and the V-shaped diagonally arranged end Walls 58, 58 each presenting a V-shaped external friction surface 60, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5A.

Each friction shoe 20 is a compact metallic object comprising a vertical V-shaped friction surface 68 in complementary frictional engagement as at 10 with the associated friction surface 40 of the top follower or outer housing i6. On r the opposite side of the shoe 20 is a V-shaped friction surface 12 tapering downwardly and inwardly in the direction of the surface 68, as best seen in Figure 8, and in complementary frictional engagement at 14 with the associated friction surface 60 on the bottom follower or inner housing. The friction surface 68 on each friction shoe 2 comprises the vertical slot 16 formed and arranged for the reception of a rivet 18 projecting through the associated perforation 38 on the adjacent end wall 36 of the top follower and welded as ai' 80, 80, said rivet abutting the shoe at the top of the slot 16 as at 82 on the release stroke and thus maintaining the device in assembled relationship as will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. Each shoe 20 also comprises a lug 84 on the bottom thereof, said lug projecting into the inner housing between the side walls 54, 54 thereof and beneath the associated end wall 58. A spring plate 86 is seated at opposite ends thereof on the lugs 84, 84 of the respective shoes, and said spring plate 86 affords a seat at 88 (Figure 2) for the lower end of the auxiliary spring 90, said spring extending upwardly through the opening 52 in the top wall 50 shown in Figure l0 in which the spring group comprises top and bottom plates |02 and |04 substantially identical with the plates disclosed in the previous modification. Secured to the top plate |02 by the rivet |06 is the top follower or outer housing |08, said top follower or outer housing being substantially identical with the corresponding housing shown in the previous modification. Secured to the bottom plate |04 as at ||0 is the bottom follower or inner housing ||2, and a friction shoe ||4 is in frictional engagement as at |`|6 with the to'p follower |08 and in frictional engagement as at ||8 with the bottom follower ||2. Each friction shoe comprises a lug |20 on the bottom thereof, the lugs |20, |20 on the friction shoes ||4, ||'4 supporting a spring plate |22, said plate affording a seat as at |24 for the lower end of an auxiliary coil spring |26,` said spring being seated at its upper end as at |28 against the top wall |30 of the bottom follower or inner housing |'|2. It will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art that the modiflcation shown in Figure 10 is substantially identical with that disclosed in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive except that the auxiliary coil spring |26 is seated against the top wall of the bottom follower or inner housing, whereas in the modification shown in Figures l to 9 said auxiliary spring K is seated against the top wall of the top follower or outer housing, the shoes and their engagement with the top and bottom followers being identical in the two modifications disclosed.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs therebetween, top and bottom followers secured to respective plates, friction surfaces on each follower, the surfaces on said bottom follower tapering downwardly and outwardly toward the respective surfaces on said top follower, friction shoes each in engagement with a surface on each follower, a plate mounted on said shoes, and compressed resilient means bearing against said., plate and one of said followers for urging said shoes into engagement with respective surfaces.

2. In a spring group, top and bottom springl plates, a plurality of coil springs therebetween, outer and inner housings secured to respective plates, V-shaped friction surfaces at opposite ends of each housing, spaced friction shoes having their lower ends received Within respective ends of said inner housing, each of said shoes being in engagement with one surface on each housing, a plate engaged with the lower ends of said shoes, and a. resilient member between said plate and one of said housings.

. 3. In a spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs therebetween, outer and inner housings secured to respective plates, friction surfaces at opposite ends of each housing, spaced friction shoes having their lower ends received within respective ends of said inner housing, each of said shoes being in engagement inner housings secured to respective plates, friction surfaces at opposite ends of each housing, spaced friction shoes having their lower ends projecting within respective ends of said inner housing, each of said shoes being in engagement with one surface on each housing, supporting means engaged with the lower ends of said shoes, and a resilient member compressed between and bearing against said means and one of said housings.

5. In a spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs therebetween, outer and inner telescoped followers secured to respective plates, spaced friction surfaces on each follower, spaced friction shoes each in engagement with a surface on each follower, abutment means engaged with the lower ends of respective shoes, and a resilient member bearing against said abutment means and one of said followers and operative to urge said shoes into engagement with said surfaces, said resilient member extending between the spaced surfaces of each follower.

6. In a spring group, top and bottom plates, a plurality of coil springs therebetween, outer and inner housings secured to respective plates, friction surfaces` at opposite ends of each housing, spaced friction shoes, each being in engagement with one surface on each housing, spring supporting means in said inner housing and supported from said shoes, and a spring compressed between and bearing against said means and one of said housings.

7. In a spring group, top and bottom plates, a

' plurality of coll springs therebetween, outer and inner housings securedto respective plates, friction surfaces at opposite ends of each housing, spaced friction shoes, each being in engagement with one surface on each housing, spring supporting means in said inner housing and supported from said shoes, and a spring compressed between and bearing against said means and said outer housing. i

8. In a spring group, top and bottom plates, a plurality of coil springs therebetween, outer and inner housings secured to respective plates, friction surfaces at opposite ends of each housing, spaced friction shoes, each being in engagement with one surface on each housing, spring supporting means in said inner housing and supported from said shoes, and a spring compressed between and bearing against said means and said inner housing.

9. In a spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs therebetween, top and bottom followers secured to respective plates, V-shaped friction surfaces on each follower, friction shoes each in engagement With a surface on each follower, a plate mounted on said shoes, and compressed resilient means bearing against said plate and one of said followers for urging said shoes into engagement with respective surfaces.

10. In a spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs therebetween, outer and inner telescoped followers secured to respective plates, friction surfaces on yeach follower, friction shoes each in engagement with a surface on each follower, a removable plate bearing against said shoes, and a resilient member extending between said surfaces and bearing against said plate and against one follower to urge said shoes into engagement with respective surfaces.

11. In a springl group, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs therebetween,

outer and inner telescoped followers. secured to respective plates, friction surfaces on each follower, the adjacent friction surfaces on respective followers vertically overlapping each other, friction shoes each in engagement with one surface on each follower, abutment means engaged with said shoes, and a. vertically disposed resilient member bearing against said means and one of said followers and operative to urge said shoes into engagement with respective surfaces, said resilient member extending between the friction surfaces on each follower.

12. In a housing for a friction absorbing4 device, top and bottom and spaced side walls, an opening in said top wall for reception of an associated spring member, a friction wall between the side walls at each end of the housing, and a space between each friction wall and said bottom wall, said space being formed and arranged for the reception of one end of an associated friction shoe.

13. In a friction absorbing device, spaced followers, one of said followers having friction surfaces, and the other having friction surfaces` within the first mentioned follower sloping toward the first-mentioned surfaces, said last-mentioned follower affording a seat for one end of the device against an associated member, friction shoes each in engagement with a, surface on each follower, abutment means associated with said shoes, and resilient means abutting one only of said followersand said abutment means for urging said shoes into engagement with the associated surfaces, said resilient means being disposed intermediate said shoes and intermediate the friction surfaces of each housing.

14. In a friction absorbing device, top and bottom telescoped followers, friction surfaces thereon, the surfaces on said bottom follower tapering toward the surfaces on said top follower, friction shoes each in engagement with surfaces on both followers, abutment means on said shoes, and a resilient member intermediate said shoes and engaged with said means and one follower for urging said shoes into engagement with said surfaces, said abutment means being disposed within the bottom follower.

15. In a friction shoe, a pair of V-shaped friction surfaces, one of said surfaces lying in a vertical plane and the other of said surfaces tapering downwardly and inwardly in the direction of said first-mentioned surface, and a spring plate supporting lug on said shoe beneath said tapering surface.

16. In a friction device, spaced inner and outer housings disposed in telescopic relationship, friction surfaces on each housing, a plurality of friction shoes each engaging a surface on each housing, a member within the inner housing and bearing against said shoes, and resilient means extending within the inner housing and bearing against said member and one of said housings for urging the shoes into engagement with the asso` ciated friction surfaces.

17. In a friction absorbing device, an inner follower having spaced friction walls presenting external friction surfaces, an outer follower telescoped over the inner follower and presenting internal friction faces adjacent respective surfaces,

' said followers affording seats for the device against associated members, friction shoes each frictionally engaging one face and one surface, an abutment element bearing against said shoes, and resilient means extending between said walls and bearing against said element and one of said followers to urge said shoes into said engagement.

18. In a friction absorbing device, an inner follower having spaced friction walls presenting exterior friction surfaces, an outer follower telescoped over the inner follower and presenting interior friction faces adjacent respective surfaces, said followers affording seats for the device, friction shoes each frictionally engaging one face and one surface, abutment means on said shoes, and resilient means within the inner follower extending between said walls and bearing against a wall of said inner follower and said abutment means to urge said shoes into said engagement.

19. In a friction absorbing device, an inner follower having spaced friction walls presenting exterior friction surfaces, an outer follower telescoped over the inner follower and presenting interior friction faces adjacent respective surfaces, said followers affording seats for the device, friction shoes each frictionally engaging one 'face and one surface, abutment means on said shoes, and

resilient means within the inner follower extending between said walls and bearing against a lwall of said outer follower and said abutment means to urge said shoes into said engagement.

20. In a friction absorbing device, an inner follower having spaced exterior friction surfaces, an

outer follower telescoped over the inner followery and presenting interior friction'faces adjacent respective surfaces, said followers affording seats for the device, friction shoes each frictionally engaging one face and one surface, abutment means associated with said shoes, and resilient means within the inner follower extending between said surfaces and bearing against said abutment means and one of said followers to urge said shoes into said engagement.

21. In a friction absorbing device, outer and inner telescoped housings, friction surfaces at opposite ends of each housing, spaced friction shoes each being in frictional engagement with one surface on each housing, an abutment element in said inner housing bearing against said shoes, and resilient means extending between and bearing against said abutment element and one of said housings.

DAVID M. LIGHT. 

